Sunil Gavaskar’s cheap humour shows him in poor light
One wonders why the 72-yr-old stoops so low. In today’s era of an over active social media, such comments are not forgiven
Former Indian captain and now a commentator, Sunil Gavaskar, made a tasteless comment during the recent IPL match between Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) final league stage game against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Brabourne Stadium.
The Windies player Shirom Hetmyer had just returned to the IPL season after having taken leave midway to be with his wife during their childbirth. Hetmyer came back into the playing XI for RR’s crucial match against the four-time IPL champions.
After the Royals were asked to chase 151, they lost a few quick wickets and were pushed onto the backfoot. The left-handed Hetmyer came to bat after Moeen Ali got rid of Devdutt Padikkal, who scored only three runs off nine balls. His return to the game lasted for a short while but Gavaskar’s comment about the player left a sour taste. Gavaskar commented on air: “Shimron Hetmyer’s wife has delivered, will he deliver now for the Royals?”
The comment was called senseless and several people wondered how a 72-year-old can make such statements on live TV.
“Ideally no one’s personal life should be brought into a public forum like a cricket commentary. I’m not sure of the relationship that SG and SH share. SG is an old timer and a
traditionalist
— in his era it was considered just good old fashioned humor to shoot out a comment and no one made a big deal of it either. Remember that there was no internet and social media in those days so people were less aware of how their comments affected people,” Suneeta Kanga, an etiquette expert said.
“The current generation is sensitive
( and rightfully so) to gender biases, sexism, politically incorrect personal remarks etc and they don’t mince words on inappropriateness when they see it happening.”
NOT THE FIRST TIME
Incidentally, Gavaskar had also been criticised last year when his sexist, distasteful remark against Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli left them fuming. Gavaskat then remarked, “Inhone lockdown me to bas Anushka ki gendon ki
practice ki hain.” (Virat Kohli has only trained against Anushka’s balls during the lockdown).
“Thanks to social media everything is up for healthy debates and discussions and the remarks made are chastised immediately,” says the expert, adding, “However, changing with the times is very important and all generations must try and understand the other’s point of views and appreciate and learn from the good points they have and sometimes magnanimously forgive the not so good ones.”